Smuggling Gang Busted at Border, Cash in Spare Tyre

Picture courtesy of Daily News.

Immigration police in Sa Kaeo, working with soldiers from the Burapha Task Force and excise officials, have smashed a cigarette smuggling operation near the Thai-Cambodian border, seizing contraband worth over THB 1 million and uncovering a staggering THB 7 million in cash concealed inside a vehicle’s spare tyre.

The operation was launched on 3 September after residents reported illicit trading near Ban Khao Din market in Khlong Hat district. Acting on the tip-off, officers staged a sting operation and monitored several suspicious vehicles in the area.

When the police moved in, they discovered large quantities of untaxed foreign-brand cigarettes hidden inside four cars. Four Cambodian nationals were arrested at the scene and all vehicles were seized.

What shocked officers most was the discovery of more than THB 7 million in cash stashed inside the spare tyre of one car. One suspect claimed the money belonged to relatives who had asked him to take it back to Cambodia, saying they did not trust banks in case of war. However, investigators remain sceptical, believing the funds may be linked to the wider cross-border smuggling network.

Despite the closure of official checkpoints and temporary crossings in Sa Kaeo, smuggling gangs continue to exploit the border. Officials noted that smuggled cigarettes can fetch several times their border value once they reach markets deeper inside Thailand, making the trade highly profitable.

All suspects, vehicles, contraband and the cash have been handed over to Khlong Hat police for legal proceedings. Authorities said they would continue investigating in order to trace the network behind the illicit trade.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Daily News 2025-09-05